Agoda has launched GoLocal Tonight across Asia-Pacific to help accommodation partners capitalise on the growing post-pandemic trend towards last-minute domestic bookings.
With the uncertainty of new outbreaks, changes in health protocols and last-minute travel restrictions, Agoda’s data reveals a shift towards searches for same day check-ins, and its GoLocal Tonight product looks to tap into this demand by offering even greater savings.
“Covid has created a new category of traveller, one who might previously have been content to hang out at home watching the latest Netflix blockbuster, but who is now so incentivised by the great last-minute deals that they act on impulse for a change of scene, deciding the same day to book an overnight stay,” explained Enric Casals, regional director Southeast Asia and Oceania, Agoda.
“The GoLocal Tonight product launching across Asia-Pacific helps hotel and accommodation partners to access these travellers and utilise inventory that would otherwise remain unused. In exchange, Agoda travellers receive further discounts of up to 30 per cent of their accommodation reservations.”
Already, more than 2,000 partners have signed up to Agoda’s GoLocal Tonight campaign in markets across Asia-Pacific, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Supported by a marketing campaign targeting customers via email marketing, PR and social media, plus in-app and a dedicated BLT, the GoLocal Tonight product will roll out from this month.
Agoda’s latest product is an extension of its GoLocal campaign which helped drive domestic travel uptake across the globe throughout last year.
Although Covid-19 cases have steadily declined since mid-January in Chonburi province, Pattaya’s hotels still face a tough battle to claw back visitors ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.
The province’s hospitality industry took a beating after being declared a maximum-control zone at the beginning of the year amid Thailand’s second Covid-19 outbreak.
Despite being downgraded from a Red Zone to an Orange Zone as of February 1, with pubs and entertainment facilities being allowed to reopen and serve alcohol until 23.00, the stigma of the outbreak and media reports about domestic travel restrictions continue to deter many would-be travellers to Pattaya.
“People need to know that they can travel safely, and that there are many benefits to traveling now; the hotels are empty, the prices are very good, and the beach in Pattaya is very clean,” said Vitanart Vathanakul, CEO of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group.
He doubts Pattaya hotels will be able to pick up significant bookings for the Lunar New Year period, which has been declared an official holiday in 2021 by the Thai government to catalyse domestic travel.
“The news that’s been published gives the impression that it’s hard to travel here, which is a pity because otherwise there would be more tourists. I would like people to know that Pattaya has fewer cases now; it’s no longer a Red Zone. You can travel, if you travel with caution,” he elaborated.
The mandatory lockdown in Chonburi province has adversely affected Pattaya’s hotels, many of which are empty. Some have opened food stalls on the streets with food from their restaurants to rake in extra cash to pay their staff.
Although hotels in Chonburi were issued a forced legal closure order on January 28, to give hospitality staff access to social security funds, hotels with checked-in guests and those who wished to stay open were allowed to do so if they notified the district chief within seven days.
“It’s good for the media to urge people to be careful, but the media can also play a key role in encouraging people to travel with caution, using social distancing and safe practices,” said Vitanart, whose hotels remain open and ready to welcome leisure tourists and business events.
In Orange Zones, meeting facilities can remain open and events with 300 pax or less are allowed.
“If you want to organise a meeting or event, consult your hotel to check on the situation. Many people don’t know that Pattaya has been taken off the high risk category, and that right now people who want to travel here can do so at very affordable prices. That way, hospitality providers gain income and their staff get paid; it’s a win-win situation,” he added.
Before Thailand’s second outbreak, the hospitality industry in Pattaya had recovered partially given its popularity as a self-drive destination and also with the support of the We Travel Together domestic subsidy programme.